Handbook of Trees of the ^N^ortiieex S 



PATES AXI) 



This beautiful tree when growing in the 

 forest attains the height of 100 or 120 ft. with 

 liiiiik :>-.") ft. in di iiiicUt. When isolated from 

 other trees it funiis an ovoid top witli many 

 upright branches whieli. however, after a time 

 gradually incline outward and form a rounded 

 or broad top. It thrixes liest in low bottom- 

 lands, subject to occasional inundation, in 

 company with various Willows, the Black Asli, 

 River Birch, Red and Black Maples, Swamp 

 White Oak. etc. In earlier days it lined the 

 banks of most of the navigable streams of the 

 interior of the eastern states, and early writers 

 tell us that in it lay a large part of the charm 

 of their picturesqueness. Its rapid growth 

 and handsome incised leaves, wliicli show suc- 

 cessively tludr darK or wliitc surfaces wdien 

 fluttering i)i the wind, have hing made it popu- 

 lar for ornamental planting. Several nursery 

 varieties have appeared. Sugar of excellent 

 i|uality is m ulc from its sap, though it requires 

 more to make a pound than does that of tlic 

 Sugar ilaple. 



Its wood is strong, rather hard, easily 

 worked, of very line grain, ami is used in the 

 manufacture of furniture, etc. A cu. ft., when 

 absolutely dry, weighs 32.84 lbs. Curly Maple 

 is occasionally prnduced by this tree.= 



Lrai-es deeply .'-Idlicd witli narrow sinuses and 

 aenminate .ind irrrmilorly coarsely dentate lobes, 

 trunoate or licart-shapcd at liase, r>-~ in. Ions, 

 Krccn above, sihery while and often pubescent 

 beneath; pale yelbiw In aalumn: pedicels long, 

 slender and oflen red. Ftrnrcm in very early 

 spring before the leaves, in dense sessile axillary 

 fascicles, greenish yillow ; corolla none; stamens 

 ?.-7 : ovary pubescent. Fniit ripening in May, the 

 samaras large TH.-2 in. long, falcate, divergent, 

 prominently veined. 



1. Syn. Acer (litsi/carpuhi Elirii. 



-. A. ^V., II, 2G and 26ff. 



